The FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers are underway, with Nigeria’s D’Tigers making a strong start in their quest for a place at the 2027 tournament in Doha, Qatar. The Nigerian men’s basketball team opened the qualifying window with three consecutive victories, strengthening their hopes of securing one of Africa’s coveted spots at the global showpiece.
Among the standout performers for D’Tigers are brothers Ikenna Iroegbu and Uchenna Iroegbu, whose consistent contributions have played a key role in Nigeria’s unbeaten run.
Ikenna combined with Chimezie Metu to score a game-high 17 points each in Nigeria’s hard-fought 84-81 victory over Tunisia. Wes Iwundu added 14 points, while Uchenna finished with 13 as D’Tigers claimed their opening win of the qualifying window.
The siblings maintained their impressive form in Nigeria’s narrow 80-79 victory over Guinea on Friday, July 3, before helping the team record a commanding 106-62 triumph over Rwanda on Sunday, July 5, to complete a perfect run in the three-game window.
The brothers who hail from Abia State have continued to establish themselves as key figures in the national team setup. Their performances have highlighted their growing influence in Nigerian basketball, with Ikenna, who plays professionally for Openjobmetis Varese, providing leadership from the backcourt alongside his younger brother, Uchenna.
With the African qualifiers still in progress, D’Tigers have laid down an early marker in the race for a place at the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, while the Iroegbu brothers continue to emerge as one of the team’s most compelling success stories.
